Carmen I. Viturro

Free radical scavengers from Mutisia friesiana (Asteraceae) and Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae).

The water‐soluble extract of Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae) and Mutisia friesiana (Asteraceae) showed radical scavenging activity in the DPPH decoloration assay. Bioassay‐guided isolation led to caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids as the main active compounds of both species. After hydrolysis, caffeic acid and quercetin proved to be the bioactive principles of both plants. Copyright

Essential oils of Satureja boliviana and S. parvifolia growing in the region of Jujuy, Argentina

Essential oils of aerial parts of Satureja parvifolia and S. boliviana of Argentina were analysed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Fifty-six components were identified. The main compound of S. parvifolia essential oil is piperitenone oxide. The most abundant constituents identified in S. boliviana essential oil were y-terpinene, s- caryophyllene, germacrene-D, bicyclogermacrene, l ,&cineol and linalool. Copyright 0 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Volatile Components of Eucalyptus globulus Labill ssp. bicostata from Jujuy, Argentina

Abstract The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the leaves and stems of Eucalyptus globulus Labill ssp. bicostata from Jujuy, in the northwest of Argentina, was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The headspace of the oil and of the crushed fresh leaves were also analyzed by capillary GC. The main component was 1,8-cineole in all the samples analyzed. Other notable constituents were α-pinene, α-terpineol, globulol and aromadendrene.

Northwestern Argentina: A Center of Genetic Diversity of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citriodora Paláu, Verbenaceae)

The aerial parts of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora Paláu) are worldwide used due to their medicinal and aromatic properties. The essential‐oil and acteoside contents have been proposed as the main quality markers for their pharmacological and organoleptic features. The northwestern region of Argentina has been repeatedly proposed as the place of origin for this species. For this reason, the essential‐oil yields and chemical compositions of leaves of 25 populations of lemon verbena from both wild collections and experimental crops from this region were studied. Plants from six different collections were subsequently grown on the same experimental parcel located at Cerrillos, Salta province, during more than seven years. In addition, the acteoside contents determined in all the samples collected in 2010 showed significant variations (from 0.5 to 4.0%). Large differences were observed in the essential‐oil composition and yields, which ranged from 0.4 to 2.1% (v/w). Nevertheless, most of the samples complied with the European Pharmacopoeia specifications. A remarkable chemical diversity with at least four clearly defined chemotypes was detected in this region. Therefore, it would be urgent to encourage actions to protect these genotypes of lemon verbena in the northwestern Argentina.